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Indepedent thumb

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(@dd316)
Active Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 5
Topic starter  

Hey everyone,

Inspired by lindsey buckingham (what a guitarist!) lately, I've been trying to get my thumb to play a constant bass independently of my other four fingers. It's hard stuff, my fingers keep trying to do whatever my thumb is doing.

Does anyone know any tips or exercises that could help develop this?
Thanks a bunch!


   
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 Nuno
(@nuno)
Famed Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 3995
 

There is a lot of exercises. Try to search some info on "Travis picking". There are several patterns with and without alternating the bass and the fingers on first, second or third strings.

I'm following the book Fingerstyle Guitar by Mark Hanson.


   
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(@vic-lewis-vl)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 10264
 

Agree with you there, LB's a very under-rated guitarist.

Re the thumb - there's a couple of songs I can think of straight away that are good for practising....."You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles is in Easy Songs, and there's a David Hodge lesson on Neil Young's "Needle And The Damage Done"....both these songs are good for practising a descending bass line with the thumb.

:D :D :D

Vic

"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)


   
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 Nuno
(@nuno)
Famed Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 3995
 

BTW, the February 2007 issue of Acoustic Guitar includes an interview and some techniques of Lindsay Buckingham.

http://www.acousticguitar.com/issues/pastissues/toc.asp?IssueID=185

The article is not available online.


   
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